What is the reason for Mazda’s use of a stylized “V” in its logo? Why does Lamborghini have the image of a raging bull as its iconic symbol? Did you know Volvo means “I roll” in Latin, capitalizing on the Swedish carmakers origin as a supplier of bearings to the auto industry?

Logos are something we take for granted on most of the products we buy. But each one has a unique story and none are more fascinating than those associated with the automobile. Here are several of the most popular logos and their reasons for being on the hood and truck lids of the most famous automobiles we see on the road today.

The Four Rings of Audi

The four rings represent the four companies that defined the Auto Union Consortium in 1932. They were Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. The name Audi comes from a translation of the Horch name, which means “hark” or “listen” into Latin.

The use of the name disappeared for a while, but was brought back in 1965 using the four rings as its logo.

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BMW's White Propeller

The common interpretation of the blue and white BMW logo is that of a white propeller turning through a blue sky. It stems from the fact BMW was first an airplane engine builder, then motorcycle and finally automobile manufacturer.

The colour also represents Bavaria and it was in 2010 the idea was raised the colours actually were designed to signify the free state of Bavaria. Either way the BMW roundel is simple and elegant, just like the vehicles it represents.

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Toyota's Trusting Circles

Three interlocking circles define the Toyota logo. The two perpendicular circles represent the relationship of mutual trust between the customer and company.

All three circles combine to form a stylized “T” for Toyota. A blank background implies the potential for continuous expansion and an unlimited future for the Japanese automaker.

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Mercedes-Benz by Air, Sea, or Land 

Arguably the most famous automobile logo, the three-pointed star is renowned for its simplicity. The design signifies the engines produced by Mercedes-Benz were suitable for land, sea and sky use. 

Founder Gottlieb Daimler also used a laurel wreath to signify the union of his company with that of Dr. Carl Benz. Over the years the logo has been streamlined to its current version.

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Rolls-Royce's Elegant Communion

In 1884 Frederick Henry Royce started an electrical and mechanical business. He built his first car in Manchester, England in 1904 naming it a “Royce”. In the same year he was introduced to Charles Stewart Rolls and the two men decided to work together.

Royce agreed to sell his cars exclusively under the name of Rolls, forming a company that to this day is renowned the world over for building the finest automobiles.

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The Bullish Reversal of Lamborghini

Founder Ferruccio Lamborghini zodiacal sign was Taurus. A builder of farm equipment, he was known to have a feisty relationship with Enzo Ferrari and started producing a competitive line of exotic sports cars in 1963.

Today Lamborghini is owned by Audi AG and parent company Volkswagen. The gold bull on a black background is thought to be the reverse of Ferrari’s black stallion on a yellow background. Is this a coincidence? Automobile historians would say certainly not.

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Porsche's Studly German Roots

The logo is a tribute to the country of Germany and the city of Stuttgart. The prancing horse symbolizes the literal translation of the name Stuttgart which means “stud farm”. With so many Porsche’s on the road today, the symbol seems to have been a good choice.

The colours represent Germany while the background represents the coat of arms of Württemberg, a former state in the western part of the country.

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The Coal-fired Mystery of Chevrolet

The famous bowtie was first used in 1913. At the time, ousted General Motors founder, William G. Durant and Louis Chevrolet worked together to build affordable automobiles to compete with Henry Ford. The bowtie is thought to be inspired by several things; a wallpaper design first seen by Durant in France, a stylized Swiss cross in honour of Chevrolet’s parents or a copy of the logo for “Coalettes,” a powerful but small coal product of the time.

Of all the theories, it is the Coalettes story that is most likely thought to be true. 

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Subaru: Japanese for the Bull

The stars in the Subaru logo represent Pleiades, part of the constellation we know as Taurus. Subaru is Taurus in the Japanese language. The six stars are said to have been used as an easy point of reference in the night sky guiding travelers for many generations. 

Today, the design of a logo is a complex thing. Most automakers have humble beginnings, however, and their inspiration came largely from things they knew or their personal surroundings. Whatever the reason, the automotive logos we most admire today all possess a rich history that comes through with every turn of the ignition key.

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Ferrari's Raging Stallion

Enzo Ferrari won a race in 1923 at the Savio track in Ravenna. While there, he was convinced by the grieving mother of Count Francesco Baracca to use the stallion he had painted on the side of his aircraft as a good luck symbol for the young car company.

Mr. Ferrari chose the black stallion as his symbol, adding yellow to the background as a tribute to his native city of Modena, Italy.

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